HUMAN RACE PARTY

When you have a secure contract and manage to set up a stable line-up, life becomes easier.And Teru's Symphonia became part of this rule.Three years between the debut and ''Egg the universe'', but just one between the second and third album , ''Human race party''.1989 was the year of release and Crime was again the supporting label.

This one belongs among the most uneven efforts by the Japanese veterans, containing both weak and masterful moments.For example, the title track is one of the best pieces ever recorded by the band, bombastic, pompous Symphonic Rock with beautiful Classical variations/interludes in the style of THE ENID and strong keyboard pyrotechnics of the E.L.P. school, while Megumi's voice is absolutely efficient.The relaxed ''The clock'' is too long for its own good, sounding like a hypnotic GERARD with orchestral synths/sampled strings and melodic guitars, but dynamics is an issue here.With ''Midnight dreamer'' both the energy of the band and Megumi's nice voice are back for a track with definite symphonic colors and a style close to the more familiar GERARD stylings, even the guitars are harder and some jazzy bits are thrown in, pretty fine cut despite some AOR leanings.''In the back of Welfare'' sounds actually more like a poem , the sensitive CAMEL-esque guitar melodies with the atmospheric keyboards will save the day, but again this one is pretty long to be appreciated.''After the party'' is one the most Neo Prog-gy tracks of the album with theatrical leanings and some cheesy, almost childish vocals in the process, the music is mostly good, swirling around fairytale passages and grandiose Symphonic Rock with pronounced synth parts.On the other hand ''Twinkle children'' sounds the most dramatic piece in here with a melancholic vocal performance and depressive/atmospheric piano themes towards a very pompous second part with full-blown orchestral atmospheres and cinematic melodies, great piece.

Had the band followed the style of the opening and closing tracks, we would be talking about a Japanese Prog masterpiece.At the form it was released, ''Human race party'' remains a pretty nice effort along the attempts on Symphonic Rock during the 80's.Anyway, ''Twinkle children'' and the eponymous opener are fantastic enough to make you track this down.Recommended.